Did The Vikings Just Get The Find Of The Decade?

PSU may have just landed the sleeper of all sleepers in this years Class.

A kid that we believe has the potential to go all the way appears to have just verbally committed to the Portland State Vikings.

We confirmed just now that Desmond Thompson from Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington is now verbally committed to becoming a PSU Viking.

If this sticks Portland State would be getting a raw force the likes of which we have not seen in a long time. Not at his size. The last time we saw Desmond he was 6'7.5" and 295 pounds. And the thing is he was mobile as all get out.

At the Northwest Elite Football Camp run by Cole Morgan and Eddie Behringer (former Jason Gesser Camp) Thompson took the MVP at the Defensive Line position. This was the biggest camp in the entire Region and the competition was off the hook. But his dominance in the non-padded camp was no surprise.

You see Desmond is from Western Samoa where they do not play football. He came here his 10th grade year and just barely got his feet wet in the game playing his Junior and Senior Years and proving he had the smarts to pick up the game very fast. He also proved that he can play it at the highest levels.

Thompson comes from a a very solid football family including his cousin Jason Thompson who is now at Wyoming. So his ability to play the game comes naturally. But to pick it up so quick and to make it to the D-1 Levels is a huge accomplishment.

"I received an offer a few days ago from PSU to play football on scholarship. As of right now I am verbally committed to Portland State," said Desmond by phone tonight. "They are recruiting me as an Athlete."

He is a natural at Defensive Tackle or End. But with his size and length he could be a superb quick / weak side tackle. There is no doubt in our minds here that PSU line coaches will be fighting over this guy before it is over.

"I was named ALL STATE OFFENSIVE TACKLE this season and we had a pretty good year overall. I am really happy about that," said Thompson as we spoke.

Here is the deal folks. People, and especially Coaches, just do not know much about this kid yet. His film is just now coming available and you will not be able to find a more physical kid. With a year or two of college coaching he can potentially be an All League guy.

We first met Des at the Nike Football Training Camp in the Summer of 2011. He was the biggest kid there and only in 10th grade. He was waiting in line for his shot to get in when a Coach we know asked us to make sure he got in. We looked down through the crowd of 400 kids and there was Des; his head and shoulders rising above the pack.

It took about 30 seconds to get him through after we alerted the Nike Staff and he competed very well. We would not know until a year later that he had never played the game.

His story and his recruitment was close to taking off after a solid Junior year. He was banged up this off season and missed almost every major football event however.

"I think that set me back a bit. It was a shoulder issue and it is 100% fine but I just could not compete during the Summer Camp schedule. Maybe that slowed down my recruitment," he said.

Is he happy about the PSU situation?

"Oh yes! Really happy. Because if I did not find a way to get to college on a scholarship I might have had to go back home and I wanted to stay her and get a degree. This is a real blessing to have my school paid for and it give me a chance to get better at the game too."

Now he has heard all the talk. Play offense they say right?

"Yes that is what I hear alot you know. That is where people think I can go the furthest. But we will see. I will get with the team next Summer and see where I can fit best," he concluded.

Right now it is basketball season and the Lancers are looking to get back to the Playoffs and with Big Des sweeping the boards and banging in the paint they have a good shot.

"I think we will be pretty good this season. We have a lot of new guys but you know we have some talent too. It should be fun," he said.

Well then the question is will this PSU offer stick?

He says yes.

The real question is if a bigger school like a UW or WSU or maybe OSU who have looked at this forceful kid will take a shot at him. That is always the question with kids like him.

Either way the Vikings are to be commended for seeing talent for what it is and going after it. Coach Michael Casco has taken over the recruiting in Western Washington; an area held by former Vikings Coach Eric Jackson who was a masterful recruiter. Looks like Coach Casco is picking right up where Jackson left off.

PSU is on a roll landing top recruits from North and South up and down the I-5 Corridor and we expect that to continue into the future. They really are doing a great job of communicating and getting kids to see all the PSU has to offer.

It was a super happy day for Desmond Thompson and we were so very happy to be able to share this story with all of you tonight! Great job Desmond!

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 15 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.